Migraine and Homeopathy
Headaches are a menace that at some time or the other, has affected each one of us. Although contact with a headache sufferer will not produce a head ache in another, headaches are definitely a social problem that needs to be addressed.
Headaches affect so many people in such varying degrees that statistics are hard to compile. Headaches also appear to strike almost at will! It appears to the sufferer that elements of the metabolic, muscular, neural and vascular system cooperate magnificently to produce the torment of a headache; the causes behind a headache cannot always be immediately traced. This is because these are the results of subtle organic and psychic processes that are not always felt by the victim or instantly observed by the physician. However, there are some common reasons that underline most headaches.
Recognize Your Headache Type
Migraine. Throbbing migraine headaches usually affect one side of the head only (in some cases on both sides, all over the head, or back of the head). It is episodic in nature and may last a few hours or a few days. It may be preceded by or accompanied by an aura or warning consisting of unusual visual symptoms in the form of wiggly lines /dark or white spots. It is usually accompanied by nausea or vomiting, increased sensitivity of light or noise. There may be a family history of migraine. Certain food items or drinks sometimes provoke migraine attacks. Surprisingly migraine is more common in women than in men.
Cluster Headache. Cluster head ache is characterized by sharp pain that usually affects one side of the head and is felt in or around the eye or forehead. It is usually accompanied by nasal congestion and redness or watering of the eye on the same side as the headache. The eye lid may droop and pupil may be constricted. It affects males much more than females, who rarely suffer from it.
Chronic Daily Headache. As the name indicates, this head ache is of monotonous regularity –it occurs daily or almost daily. Four basic types of head ache qualify as “chronic daily headache”. These are chronic tension type headaches, so called transformed migraine, new daily persistent headache, and the condition medically known as hemicranias continua.
Tension Headache. The pain caused by tension headache is described as pressure or heaviness around the head or top of the head sometimes accompanied by a feeling of soreness or tightness in the back of the neck and shoulders. Sufferers feel as if there is a rubber band around the head sometimes accompanied by a feeling of soreness or tightness in back of the neck and shoulders. Sufferers feel as if there is a rubber band around the head. Other symptoms may include tiredness, lack of energy in concentration, or poor memory. This type of headache lasts for more than four hours, and most patients describe it as being constantly present.
Sinus Headache. This a dull throbbing pain affecting the region around the eyes too. it is usually linked to allergies, sinus infection, and changes in the weather.
Rebound Headaches. These headaches are characterized by a continuous low grade head ache between several episodes of increased pain throughout the day. Such headaches are a result of the wearing off of the effects of the pain killer. These headaches may be triggered by slight physical or mental effort. These are often accompanied by nausea, restlessness, anxiety, irritability, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and depression.
Ice-cream Headache. Medically called cold stimulus headache, this is sometimes caused by gulping down a frozen dessert (say an ice cream), which triggers an excruciating, sharp, shooting pain. This is caused by blood vessel spasms which are triggered by the intense cold. To avoid this, just go slow while eating your ice cream.
Homeopathic Approach for Different Types of Headaches*
Migraine is one of the most common headache for which homeopathy can positively do something. Here, there is another special significance.Allopathy looks to only reduce the illeffects of migraine instead of removing the root cause. Healthcare will provide you only preventive medicines. So it is common to find patients coming for homeopathic effective heling after suffering for years from frequent headaches and migraine, despite allopathic help.
Prevention & Management
- Eat regular meals.
- Find ways to relieve tension - take a walk or hit a punching bag.
- Stretch neck and shoulder regularly. Take a few deep breaths every day.
- Try not to take your office aggravations home.
- Recognize situations that have triggered headaches in the past, and try to avoid them or try to understand why these situations make you nervous.
- Always take food at the same time of the day. Omega-3 fatty acids and wholegrain are helpful.
- Try to get up and go to bed at the same time of the day.
- Avoid citrus food and juices, caffeine-containing things, aged cheese, peanuts, meat, beer, and alcohol, as they are known to trigger migraines.